Farm policy, consumers’ interest collide
Signs are everywhere that consumers want more local food. Besides Ontario recently putting money into a plan to support homegrown and buy-local initiatives, two...
Read MoreAuthor: Owen Roberts
Fruit, vegetable farmers fight for market share
Guilt is a powerful tactic, but it's proven in the past to be ineffective for getting Ontarians to buy homegrown products.Sure, the province would be better off if consumers patronized Ontario farmers, manufacturers,...
Read MoreMarket program draws farmers, consumers closer
Farmers' markets weren't exactly teeming with seasonal bounty back in March, when the provincial government announced nearly $4 million in support for them as part of the provincial budget.But it's a different story...
Read MoreThese successful farmers say diversification worked for them
You might not know English crop farmers Gordon and Judy Davies, but if you're interested in land prices, you might have heard of their neighbours.A short distance away from the Davies' Middleton House Farm, located in...
Read MoreFertilizer fears have farmers on edge
Rising food prices globally are focusing attention on all parts of the food production chain.Lately, eyes are falling on fertilizer. It's become more expensive than ever, which is fine for anyone holding astronomically...
Read MoreOWEN ROBERTS
Owen Roberts is a faculty member in the Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications program at the University of Illinois. As an agricultural journalist, he is the past president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists and a lifetime achievement award recipient from the Canadian Farm Writers' Federation. His programs and research papers have been recognized nationally and internationally through awards from the Journal of Applied Communications, the National Agri-Marketing Association, the Association for Communications Excellence, and others.